Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
An elutriation device comprising: chamber means for defining an air flow path; means for producing air flow through said chamber means along said path; means for admitting a mixture of particulate materials into a zone within said chamber means along said path; means disposed across said chamber means for controlling the rate and turbulence of said air flow in said zone to separate the lighter particles from the heavier particles in said mixture, the lighter particles being carried by said flow and the heavier particles falling through it, said controlling means comprising: a plurality of rod-like members arranged in three sets, one set being disposed between the other two sets; and means for permitting adjustment of the spacing between said other two sets and said one set; means disposed beneath said chamber means for receiving said falling heavier particles; and means for collecting the separated lighter particles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
An elutriation device comprising: chamber means for defining an air flow path; means for producing air flow through said chamber means along said path; means for admitting a mixture of particulate materials into a zone within said chamber means along said path; means disposed across said chamber means for controlling the rate and turbulence of said air flow in said zone to separate the lighter particles from the heavier particles in said mixture, the lighter particles being carried by said flow and the heavier particles falling through it, said controlling means comprising: a plurality of rod-like members arranged in three sets, one set being disposed between the other two sets; and means for permitting adjustment of the spacing between said other two sets and said one set; means disposed beneath said chamber means for receiving said falling heavier particles; and means for collecting the separated lighter particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said one set comprises three rod-like members disposed substantially in a horizontal plane with the center member being adjustably spaced from the two outer members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said other two sets each comprise two rod-like members adjustably spaced from said one set.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said chamber means has an open lower end with a cross-sectional area A 1 and said means for receiving said falling heavier particles has an open upper end with a cross-sectional area A 2 , the open lower end of said chamber means and the open upper end of said receiving means being disposed such that areas A 1 and A 2 lie substantially in the same plane and are related to each other such that A 1 /A 2 ≈2/1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for admitting the mixture comprises means for defining a substantially horizontal slot in said chamber means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 further comprising means for evenly metering the particles in said mixture through said slot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said chamber means defines a substantially vertical path, and said means for producing airflow through said chamber means comprises exhauster means operatively connected to said chamber means for creating a negative air pressure at the upper end of said path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as in claim 7 further comprising means at the top of said chamber means above said zone for admitting additional air into said airflow.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said means for collecting the separated lighter particles comprises a low-efficiency cyclone operatively connected between said chamber means and said exhauster means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for separating fine char particles from the mixture of fine particles found in the discharge materials from a coal-fired direct reduction process comprising the steps of: introducing the mixture of particles in a substantially evenly distributed flow into an upwardly flowing air stream; adjusting the velocity and turbulence of the air stream in the zone of the air stream into which the particle mixture is introduced such that the lighter char particles are carried upwardly with the air stream, while the other heavier particles in the mixture fall by gravity downwardly through the air stream; receiving the downwardly falling heavier particles in a hopper; and removing and collecting the lighter char particles from the air stream by means of a low-efficiency cyclone.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for separating fine char particles from the mixture of fine particles found in the discharge materials from a coal-fired direct reduction process comprising the steps of: introducing the mixture of particles in a substantially evenly distributed flow into an upwardly flowing air stream; adjusting the velocity and turbulence of the air stream in the zone of the air stream into which the particle mixture is introduced such that the lighter char particles are carried upwardly with the air stream, while the other heavier particles in the mixture fall by gravity downwardly through the air stream; receiving the downwardly falling heavier particles in a hopper; and removing and collecting the lighter char particles from the air stream by means of a low-efficiency cyclone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 10 comprising the further step of returning the collected lighter char particles to said direct reduction process.